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SPORTS Wednesday 12 July 2017

PGA Tour Commissioner’s top

priority is to make Palmer proud

By DOUG FERGUSON pointed Monahan his dep- next tee with both arms
AP Golf Writer uty commissioner, Finchem outstretched to slap hands
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. took him to see Palmer at with them. That didn’t stop
(AP) — Jay Monahan never his home in Latrobe, Penn- even as the match mo-
said his first priority as PGA sylvania. Palmer had a mentarily turned against
Tour commissioner was for medical issue come up a him. Monahan noticed
every player to be just like few days earlier but insisted Xander Schauffele walk off
Arnold Palmer. they not cancel their visit. the 18th green after a bird-
That would be asking for He spent two hours talk- ie that led to his first PGA In this Jan. 8, 2017, file photo, PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan
the impossible. ing about his competitive Tour victory at The Green- waves to fans before speaking after the final round of the
Consider one of the many days, the formation of the brier Classic and hand his Tournament of Champions golf event, at Kapalua Plantation
remarkable stories in Tom PGA Tour, anything they glove to a kid. q Course in Kapalua, Hawaii. Associated Press
Callahan’s book, “Arnie.” wanted to know. Monahan
Two men from Chicago, went home to Florida and
Jeff Roberts and Wally wrote it all down.
Schneider, were serving He was at Palmer’s memo-
in Vietnam and wrote to rial service last October,
Palmer seeking help with struck by how eight speak-
their bunker shots (when ers could stitch together a
they weren’t shooting from life well played. So when
bunkers). Palmer not only Monahan took over as
replied, he sent two sand commissioner in January
wedges and golf balls, and met with reporters, the
along with his sincere wish- first question was his priority
es for a safe and speedy for the year.
return. “I would say when we
Roberts went to the West- leave on Dec. 31st, it’s to
ern Open when he got make Mr. Palmer proud,”
home. He waited for Palm- he said. “So we can look
er outside the clubhouse up to heaven and feel
at Olympia Fields and told great about what we ac-
him that he was one of the complished.”
soldiers to whom Palmer Halfway through the year,
had sent the sand wedges Monahan gives the tour a
in Vietnam. grade of “incomplete,” but
“Are you Jeff or Wally?” only because it’s still July
Palmer said to him. and “we have more work
Monahan’s eyes lit up to do.”
when he heard the story But he has seen enough to
Tuesday. His own memories believe the tour is on the
of the King date to 1996 right track.
when Monahan was an Monahan saw it in Bob Ste-
event planner at EMC and ber, who celebrated 50
was sent to the Skills Chal- years as a volunteer at the
lenge the company spon- Farmers Insurance Open
sored because no one else and caddied in the first
wanted to go. Palmer was tournament in 1952.
playing for the first time. “That’s one moment in time
Monahan was seated next that Arnold would have a
to him. big smile on his face, to see
“He invited me to play his a man sustain that level of
golf course. He made me commitment to the game,”
feel like I was the most he said.
important person in the He saw it at the Dell Tech-
room,” Monahan said. “I’ll nologies Match Play in
never forget that.” Texas, when Dustin John-
Nearly two decades lat- son walked between rows
er, after Tim Finchem ap- of fans on his way to the